I heard a rumor the other day at the airport from BAA that all pax will be banned from carrying cameras and mobile phones with cameras onto aircraft.
You will have to put them in the hold with your other luggage and hope they don't get lost or damaged.
How will I make my next trip report for a-net?

Picture cell phones and cameras have raised some serious issues of privacy and security thoughout the world and there being banned from many places of employment, business buildings, government buildings and facilities, gyms (especially the locker rooms), airport terminals (like EWR as to cameras). I would preseume that there is a deep fear of recording security procedures and structures by terrorists to find weaknesses to be exploited. There is also the personal privacy and annoyance factors of people taking pictures, usually requiring the use of flash on a camera. Even the use of a flash on a camera could be used by terrorists to carry out an act or contain a bomb device. Placing such items in the checked baggage does increase the risk of damage, theft or if the luggage is mishipped, then you are without them when you may need them the most.

From whom did you "hear" the rumor at BAA? We don't need a name, but a description of the person's role at BAA would be helpful. Someone who cleans ashtrays may not have as reliable information as someone in an executive position.

I ask only because some people on this forum like to start their own rumors which are based on fantasy and nothing else. Sort of frustrating to get involved in determining if a rumor has some truth to it only to find out it's someone who just made up something for entertainment!

I'm intrigued about this as photography (even with cell phones) has just been banned on the subway system in Boston due to security concerns.

If that were to happen I'd be happy to check my equipment IF and only IF the airline and/or BAA were to pay me twice the replacement value in advance so I can buy new equipment at highstreet UK prices on arrival.
If the equipment is returned to me complete and undamaged they get the money back, if anything is missing or damaged (even a filter or battery) I get to keep it all.

But I doubt that this is set to happen as the right to carry cameras on board is set firm in international treaty.
BAA MIGHT restrict the use of cameras on board UK airports and maybe airlines but that's as far as they can go.

This kind of nonsense really makes me cross; BAA shows its corporate colours in its attitude towards security (unfocused) and enthusiasts. Not only has it gradually reduced the facilities available to enthusiasts to nothing, it has also - while coming out with some bland patronising nonsense about understanding enthusiasts - been instrumental in getting other airports (Melbourne and Hong Kong) to reduce its facilities.

Okay, maybe this isn't aimed at aviation enthusiasts, but even if it isn't, here BAA comes out with some meaningless b*****s and as a result of this ill considered garbage, tries to restrict people's use of cameras? It's madness and what's worse, it must give people pause for thought as to how focused BAA is on security, if it sees cameras as a threat. Does this mean it's war on aircraft enthusiasts? What will it do if it sees people with a camera? Confiscate it, or caution people? In other words, its attention will be focused on people who don't pose a threat; resources will be diverted away from activities which do pose a threat. All because some office clerk decides cameras are "a bad thing".

Oh, and here's another thing: the TSA warns against cameras or film being in checked baggage, so perhaps the two of them could get together (that would be a nice meeting - somewhere in Pyongyang or Najaf, perhaps) to decide a middle ground.

Do you wake business men up if they are asleep during the safety demo? If not then why bother the spotters who are your second best source of info if something happens in flight (besides the flight crew).

Sounding just a bit hostile, Sammyhostie... Why? Spotters are harmless, and I would think airline employees would appreciate people who take such interest in their industry. Airline enthusiasts are a bit of a down-trodden bunch, post-9/11. Especially here in the 'States. Your tone is just a bit disappointing.

Air carrier has no liability for photographic equipment, computers, VCRs and any other electronic equipment including software or components, jewelry, cash, documents, furs, works of art or other similar valuable items

My camera equipment happens to be pretty expensive and I have no intention of putting it in the hold, in fact the TSA makes it clear that they advise passengers to have cameras in their cabin baggage not in the hold.

Sammythehostie, what on earth are you talking about-talk about making sweeping generalisations, I don't anyone think here is advocating the use of cameras during the safety demo and using that as a reason to stop people taking cameras on planes is garbage. Please go into more detail as to why cameras are dangerous and I don't want to hear nonsense about safety demos-I'm talking about the use of cameras during cruise etc which is when I (and almost everyone else IMO) use my camera when I'm flying.

Matt

you can't buy time but you can sell your soul and the closest thing to heaven is to rock'n'roll

Why not ban passengers? They are the biggest risk in the whole operation. (BTW, if I travel I usualy carry an aluminium attachee case full of photographic equipment with me, two Minolta SLRs with additional lenses, one Zenzai Bronica medium format camera and a professional flash gun, this stuff is NOt going into the cargo hold, period.

I think what most airlines teach the hosties is that a) electronic equipment will make the planes go like a robot confronting Capt. Kirk and b) [legacy fear:] in the event of the plane careering off the runway etc. the cameras will `be like missiles' flying through the cabin.
Of course, not being suicidal, the wise photographer has taken these factors into account and taken appropriate measures.

I don't fly CO anymore (even though I can get DL miles) because they don't allow using a camera during taxi, take-off and landing. It's in their written policy. DL, NW, and others don't have this restriction. I have asked CO about the reason for this (through their website) and the answer I got was that they submitted my question to the technical staff. Of course, I have not received a reply in over 6 months.

Ok so I'm going to PHX from LHR soon, last I checked BAA has no jurisdiction whatsoever over what I take on board the aircraft at PHX when I come home, and I strongly suspect that it is up to British Airways and the CAA to determine what I take on board on the flight from LHR.

Matt

you can't buy time but you can sell your soul and the closest thing to heaven is to rock'n'roll